Toy gun.



T. E MOON.

TOYGUN.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-7, 1916.

1,226,273., Patented May15,1917.

KIN

THOMAS ELWOOD MOON, OF SABINA, OHIO, ASSIGNOE 0F ONE-HALF T0 ORLANID J.MOON, OF NEW HOLLAND, OHIO.

TOY GUN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 15, 1917.

Application filed August 7, 1916. Serial No. 113,516.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. Moon, a citizen of the United States,residing at Sabina, in the county of Clinton and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Toy Guns; and I dohereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to toy guns or pistols and more particularly to agun or pistol having a spring-impelled piston and especially designed asa toy to be used in shooting marbles or balls in such games as those inwhich it is desired to give small balls or other objects an impetus androlling motion along a smooth surface.

The objects of my invention are to provide a simple and efficient deviceof the character referred to for imparting to balls and other objects animpetuous rolling motion along a smooth surface, and to avoid thenecessity for loading the gun or putting the ball or other object to beimpelled into the gun-barrel or connecting it in any way with any partof the gun; also to adapt the device to" operate in such manner that theuser may guide or aim his shots so as to impel the ball or other objectin various directions, either straight ahead, in the direction of theaxis of the gun-barrel, or at an angle thereto, which is necessary inmany games, but impossible when the ball or other object to be impelledis confined upon or within the gun-barrel.

The invention will first be hereinafter more particularly described,with reference to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as apart of this specification, and then pointed out in the claims at theend ofthe description.

In said drawings, Figure 1, is a perspec tive view of my improved toygun showing the parts arranged in position for discharging; and Fig. 2,is a side elevation partly in section in order to more clearly disclosethe arrangement of the operating parts.

Referring to sald drawings, 111 which the same reference letters areused to denote corresponding parts in different views, the letter Adenotes the handle or stock of the gun, which is elevated above thebarrel B, being preferably arched or curved in an upwardly extendingdirection from the barrel, in order to aflord adequate room for the handof the operator as the gun rests in operative position upon a flat orlevel surface. This stock or handle may be rounded or formed withbeveled edges a, in order to provide a smooth and easy grip for the handof the operator. As shown in Fig. 2, there is formed within the underside of this stock A, a recess or slot (1. to receive the pivoted endsof a trigger C and a fulcrum-piece or lever D, the respective purposesof which will be more specifically defined in the description whichfollows. At the terminus of the stock A, extending from the under sidethereof and forming the outer rear wall of the barrel, is a verticalportion a which provides a shoulder or abutment and differentiates thestock from the barrel and also provides a stop or bumper for the lever Dwhen the gun is discharged. The barrel B is preferably Slightlyflattened along its under surface in order to rest firmly upon any levelsurface upon which it may be placed. Within the barrel B, is a piston E,to which is perma nently fastened, in any desired manner, a connectingrod 6 which passes through the rear wall I) of the barrel. Thisconnecting rod 6, at its outer extremity, may be bent into a hook form,and passed through an aperture provided at the lower end of the leverfor the purpose and thereby or otherwise securely fastened to the leverD. Within the barrel B, between the piston E and the rear wall b of thebarrel is a spiral spring F, which may be of any desired tension orstrength. As shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, wherein the spring iscompressed sufliciently to adapt it to force the plunger forward whenreleased by the trigger, the plunger protrudes from the free ormuzzle'end of the barrel in order that it may be directed against theball or other object lying on the floor or smooth surface in front ofthe plunger, as indicated in dotted lines, in such manner that the ballwill be given an impetuous rolling motion in whatever direction theoperator may choose, either in the direction of the axis of thegun-barrel or at an angle thereto. The lever D is pivoted at its upperextremity within the recess a by means of a pin or small bolt (Z passingthrough the stock, and is provided along its inner edge with a series ofdownwardly extending notches or teeth (1 adapted to be engaged by thetongue or hook 0 of the trigger C, which is pivoted at its upper end tothe stock A within the recess a by a pin or small bolt 0 in the samemanner as the lever D. Attached to the under side of the stock A andabutting the trigger C, is a spring G, preferably of right-angle form,which serves to push the trigger forward and hold it in firm engagementwith the notches (Z of the lever D when the parts are arranged intensioned position and ready to be released for impelling the piston.

The operation of my improved toy gun' will be readily understood fromthe foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings. By means of the depending fulcrum-piece or lever having aseries of notches therein for engagement with the dependingspring-pressed catch or trigger, the springactuated piston may be drawnback and held under different degrees of tension to adapt it to exertgreater or less force as desired for heavy or light shots. hen it isdesired to set the gun in operative position, it is necessary simply topush the piston within the barrel until the desired tension under theforce of the spring F is reached, and the connecting rod will force thenotched lever against the trigger which will in turn engage with one of.

the notches, and will be held in position against the lever by means ofthe spring G, as indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawing. The gun is thenvplaced in position back of the ball which is indicated in dotted lines,and when the trigger is released the piston will strike it withsufficient force to give it a rapid and direct rolling motion. If it isdesired to insert the missile within the barrel, the piston may beshortened to a greater or less extent, or in proportion to the size ofthe missile to be thrown.

The unique form and simple construction of this toy gun makes it a veryhandy toy, and the elevated handle in arched form is designed to givethe hand of the operator plenty of room between it and the surface uponwhich it rests, thus effecting a very comfortable and eflicient articlefor the use to which it is adapted. It has the further advantage ofbeing absolutely harmless, com: bined with simplicity in construction,which enables it to be manufactured at very little expense.

It will be understood that the word gun as used in the appended claimsis intended to include a device of the character referred to having theform of either a gun or pistol according to the ordinary acceptation ofthe term. 7

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A toy gun having a barrel extending in a horizontal plane to adapt itto rest upon a level surface, a rearwa'rdly extending, upwardly ganddownwardly curved handle elevated above the barrel so as to provide aclear space for the hand between said handle and said surface, a pistonin said barrel, a spring behind the piston, and releasable meansdepending'from said handle includlever provided with a series of notchestherein and having a direct connection with said piston and a dependingpivoted catch or trigger adapted to engage the notches in said leverwhereby the spring may be compressed and held under different degrees oftension for varying the force exerted by the piston in impelling a ball.

2. Ina toy gun, a stock having an arched handle elevated above thebarrel, a barrel extending longitudinally therefrom in a planesubstantially parallel with the horizon, said barrel having aspring-actuated piston therein protruding from its open end and aconnecting rod secured thereto extending through the closed end of thebarrel and.

pivoted to a notched fulcrumed lever, said lever being pivoted anddepending fromthe handle of the gun, together with a catch adapted toengage the notches in said lever and hold said spring under tension.

8. A toy gun having a stock, a'barrel, a

piston in said barrel, a fulcrumed lever depending from the stock havingnotches therein, and deta'chably secured to a rod connected to saidpiston, a trigger having a catch thereon adapted to engage the notchesin said lever, and means for impelling the piston when said trigger isreleased.

at. A toy gun comprising a barrel adapted to rest on a flat surface inline with an object lying on said surface, and a stock having arearwardly extending handle elevated above the barrel, so as to givefree action to the hand of the operator, and provided with a pivotallyattached 'notched'ba'r and trigger for engagement with said bardepending from its under side; said barrel havinga reciprocating plungertherein, a spring adapted to be compressed by saidplimger,

and a rod connecting said plunger and notched bar. V

5. A toy gun having a barrel extending a level surface, an arched handleelevated above the barrel so as to provide a clear mg a dependingpivoted fulcrum-piece or r in a horizontal plane to adapt it to restupon 7 space for the hand between said handle and a trigger forretaining said releasable and said surface, a piston protruding frommeans in different adjusted positions. 10 the muzzle end of said barrel,a spring be- In testimony whereof I aflix my signahind the piston,releasable means dependture in the presence of two Witnesses.

5 ing from said handle having a directcon- THOMAS ELWOOD MOON.

nection with said piston for compressing and Witnesses: holding thespring under different degrees GEO. M. PLYMIRE, of tension as desiredfor heavy or light shots, CHAS. L. WILSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

